JP2009225191A - E-mail relay system, and control method of e-mail relay system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration which can effectively prevent a situation that e-mail is lost in relaying e-mail. <P>SOLUTION: In an e-mail relay system, a relay apparatus is configured so that a first information processing apparatus receives and stores a first e-mail and at the same time, notifies the identifier of the first e-mail to a second information processing apparatus, the second information processing apparatus receives and stores a second e-mail and compares the identifier of the first e-mail notified by the first information processing apparatus with the identifier of the stored second e-mail. When the corresponding identifier of the first e-mail is not notified with respect to the identifier of the stored second e-mail, the second e-mail having the identifier equal to the identifier of the first e-mail is transferred to the first information processing apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic mail relay system and an electronic mail relay system control method.

  For example, in a so-called remote support center having a function of remotely maintaining and managing an information processing system (hereinafter referred to as a customer system) delivered to a customer, information indicating the current state of the customer system using e-mail as a communication means, for example. To get.

  In this case, a plurality of multiplexed systems are operating in the remote support center, and each individual system of the plurality of systems receives and processes an electronic mail transmitted from the customer system.

  In such a remote support center, for the purpose of hardware maintenance, firmware revision, and the like, there is a case where an operation accompanied by a system stop occurs in one of the multiplexed systems.

  In such a case, since the e-mail transmitted from the customer system cannot be received while the system is stopped, only the corresponding system among the plurality of systems cannot receive the e-mail transmitted from the customer system. After the restoration, the consistency of the e-mail received from the customer system with the other systems among the plurality of systems is lost.

  In order to prevent such a situation, it is necessary to take measures to maintain the integrity of the e-mail received from the customer system in advance when the work accompanied by the system stop is performed as described above.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of a conventional configuration for maintaining the consistency of the electronic mail.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, an e-mail transmitted from a customer system at a remote support center is relayed by a mail relay server 100 ′ and transferred to each system 1, 210 ′, 220 ′.

  In each system 210 ′, 220 ′, the transferred e-mail is temporarily stored in the mailboxes 212 ′, 222 ′ and then processed by the applications 211 ′, 221 ′. The contents of each e-mail are stored in the databases 213 ′, 223 ′. Accumulated in.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a temporary mail BOX 101 ′ is prepared for each system 1, 210 ′ that stops the system in a mail relay server 100 ′ that relays an electronic mail transmitted from a customer system in a remote support center (step 1).

  When the system 1, 210 ′ is in a system stop state and the e-mail relay server 100 ′ cannot receive the e-mail relayed, the e-mail relay server 100 ′ temporarily sets an e-mail transfer destination to be relayed in the meantime. The temporary mail BOX 101 ′ is changed, and the electronic mail is stored in the temporary mail BOX 101 ′ (step 2).

  Then, after canceling the system suspension of the systems 1 and 210 ′, the mail relay server 100 ′ transfers the email stored in the temporary mail BOX 101 ′ to the systems 1 and 210 ′ in this way (step 3).

  After all e-mails stored in the temporary mail BOX 101 ′ are transferred to the systems 1 and 210 ′, the mail relay server 100 ′ returns the e-mail transfer destination to the systems 1 and 210 ′ (step 4).

  The above steps 1 to 4 are all performed by a switching operation by an operator.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, in the operation of Step 2, due to the timing relationship between the system stop and the transfer destination switching operation, the e-mail that has already been transferred to the system 1, 210 ' May not be received by e-mail, and the e-mail may be lost.

  Further, if the operation in step 4 is performed while receiving an e-mail, the e-mail to be received cannot be received during that time, and the e-mail may be lost.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining another conventional example.

  In the configuration of FIG. 2, an e-mail transmitted from the customer system at the remote support center is relayed by the mail relay server 100 "and transferred to each system 1, 210", 220 ". In each system 210", 220 " The transferred e-mails are temporarily stored in the mail boxes 212 ", 222" and then processed by the applications 211 ", 221", and the contents of each e-mail are accumulated in the databases 213 ", 223".

  In the case of the configuration of FIG. 2, the operator records the time A when the system 1,210 "is in the system stopped state (step 1), and when the system 1,210" is restored, during the time A Then, the electronic mail stored in the mail BOX of system 2, 220 "is transferred to system 1, 210" (step 2).

  The above steps 1 and 2 are all performed by the operator.

  In the configuration of FIG. 2, the time A cannot be recorded in detail in the operation of Step 1, and is an electronic mail transmitted at the start or end time of the time A. There is a possibility that an electronic mail to be transferred to 210 "may be transferred and leaked.

Further, when extracting the corresponding e-mail in the operation of step 2, there is a possibility that the wrong e-mail is extracted.
JP 2004-21823 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-311673

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and matching of e-mails held by each of a plurality of information processing apparatuses that receive e-mails from a relay apparatus that relays e-mails transmitted from the outside. It aims at providing the structure which can keep property reliably.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an electronic mail relay system including a relay device that relays received electronic mail and first and second information processing devices connected to the relay device. Relays the first e-mail with the identifier assigned to the received e-mail to the first information processing apparatus, and the second e-mail with the same identifier as the identifier added to the received e-mail. Relaying to the second information processing apparatus, the first information processing apparatus receives the first electronic mail, stores it in the first storage device, and stores the received first electronic mail. An identifier is notified to the second information processing apparatus, and the second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail and stores it in the second storage device together with the identifier of the second electronic mail. ,in front The identifier of the first electronic mail notified by the first information processing apparatus is compared with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device, and the second electronic mail stored in the storage device is compared. If the identifier of the corresponding first e-mail is not notified among the identifiers, the second e-mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first e-mail is taken out from the second storage device and the second e-mail is retrieved. It transfers to 1 information processing apparatus, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In this configuration, the first information processing device receives the first electronic mail and stores it in the first storage device, and notifies the second information processing device of the identifier of the received first electronic mail, The second information processing device receives the second e-mail, stores it in the second storage device together with the identifier of the second e-mail, and stores the first e-mail notified by the first information processing device. When the identifier is compared with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device, and the identifier of the corresponding first electronic mail among the identifiers of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device is not notified, A second electronic mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first electronic mail is taken out from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing apparatus.

  According to this configuration, there is a time zone (hereinafter referred to as a system stop time zone) in which the first information processing apparatus is in a system stop state and the electronic mail relayed by the relay apparatus cannot be received. In this case, the second information processing apparatus compares the identifier of the first electronic mail notified by the first information processing apparatus with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in its own storage device, thereby storing its own memory. It can be recognized that, among the identifiers of the second electronic mail stored in the apparatus, the identifier of the first electronic mail corresponding to the system stop time period is not notified. In that case, the second information processing apparatus takes out the second electronic mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first electronic mail from the second storage device and transfers it to the first information processing apparatus. As a result, the e-mail that could not be received by the first information processing apparatus during the system stop time period is transferred from the second information processing apparatus to the first information processing apparatus. The e-mail that could not be received is compensated by being recognized and transferred by the second information processing apparatus. Therefore, the first information processing apparatus can ensure the consistency of the electronic mail held by itself with the electronic mail held by the second information processing apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably maintain the consistency of the electronic mail held by each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses that receive the electronic mail from the relay apparatus that relays the electronic mail transmitted from the outside. Possible configurations may be provided.

  According to the e-mail relay method of the embodiment of the present invention, the e-mail is relayed in order to maintain the integrity of the e-mail held by each of the multiplexed systems that operate continuously for 24 hours 365 days. When relaying an electronic mail from a mail relay server as a relay apparatus to each system as an information processing apparatus, the electronic mail is transferred with a sequential identifier (hereinafter also referred to as “id”).

  Each system stores the received sequential id in the DB, and exchanges information related to the id with other systems.

  As a result, the e-mail that is held by the relay device temporarily disappears due to a situation where the e-mail relayed by the relay device cannot be received (that is, the system is stopped due to planned maintenance work or trouble). Even in this case, the exchange of the id information mutually verifies whether or not each system has an e-mail, and if there is a missing e-mail, receives it from another system.

  In this way, it is possible to automatically verify the consistency between each system of retained e-mails and to compensate for any omissions, thereby ensuring the consistency between each system of retained e-mails. Become.

  In other words, according to the e-mail relay method of the embodiment of the present invention, since the integrity of the e-mail held can be maintained even if the above systems that receive e-mail relay from the mail relay server are physically separated, It is possible to provide a system that can cope with a case where the system is installed in a remote place and can realize early recovery in the event of a disaster.

  The schematic configuration of each embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

  Example 1 is an example of a so-called single server configuration, in which one mail relay server relays electronic mail.

  Example 2 is an example of a so-called cluster configuration in which two mail relay servers are provided, one of which is in an operating state and the other is in a standby state (so-called hot standby state). Therefore, the reliability of the mail relay server is improved.

  The third embodiment is an embodiment of a so-called load distribution configuration, which grasps the amount of electronic mail transmitted to the mail relay server and the status of the two relay destination systems and distributes the processing load executed by each system. It is a configuration.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an e-mail relay method according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration for realizing the electronic mail relay method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the configuration for realizing the email relay method according to the first embodiment of the present invention, that is, the email relay system having a single server configuration, a single email relay server 100 is provided. The e-mail relayed by the e-mail is transferred to each of the systems 1, 210 and systems 2, 220 as information processing apparatuses that receive and process the e-mail.

  In each of these systems 210 and 220, the e-mail transferred in this way is temporarily stored in the mailboxes 212 and 222 and then processed by the applications 211 and 221. The contents of each e-mail are stored in the databases 213 and 223. Accumulated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow in the electronic mail relay system having the configuration shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, when the mail relay server 100 receives an electronic mail transmitted from the customer system (step S1), it relays it and forwards it to each system 1, 210, system 2, 220 (step S2).

  Here, when the email relay server 100 relays an email sent from the customer system, the email relay server 100 forwards the email to the systems 1 and 210 and forwards the email having the same content as the email to the systems 2 and 220 as well. To do.

  That is, two e-mails having the same contents are prepared, one of them (referred to as the first e-mail) is transferred to the systems 1 and 210, and the other one (this is referred to as the second e-mail). To the system 2,220.

  In step S2, the mail relay server 100 transfers each electronic mail (that is, the first electronic mail and the second electronic mail) when transferring the electronic mail to each system 1, 210, system 2, 220 as described above. Give the same sequential identifier id. As a result, the first and second emails having the same id have the same content.

  In the systems 1 and 210, when the e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100 is received in this way, the e-mail is stored in the database 213 together with the id given to the e-mail by the mail relay server 100 as described above. (Step S3). In the systems 1 and 210, the id stored in the database 213 in this way is notified by periodically transmitting to the other systems 2 and 220.

  Similarly, in the systems 2 and 220, when the e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100 as described above is received, the e-mail is stored in the database 223 together with the id assigned to the e-mail by the mail relay server 100 as described above. (Step S13). Further, the system 2 220 notifies the ID stored in the database 223 in this manner by periodically transmitting it to the other systems 1 and 210.

  In step S4, the systems 1 and 210 receive what is periodically transmitted from the other systems 2 and 220 in the database 223 of the other systems 2 and 220 as described above.

  Similarly, in step S14, the systems 2 and 220 receive the IDs stored in the database 213 of the other systems 1 and 210 as described above from the other systems 1 and 210 as described above.

  The systems 1 and 210 compare all the ids stored in the database 213 by comparing the ids received from the other systems 2 and 220 in step S4 with the ids stored in the database 213 in step S3 in step S5. And verifying whether or not ids matching them have been received from the other systems 2 and 220 (step S6).

  As a result of the verification in step S6, if there is an id stored in the database 213 that has not been received from the other systems 2 and 220 with the same id (this state is referred to as “missing” hereinafter). The system 1, 210 reads out an e-mail having the corresponding id from the database 213 and transfers it to the other systems 2, 220 (step S 7).

  Similarly, in step S15, the system 2, 220 compares the id received from the other systems 1, 210 in step S14 with the id stored in the database 223 in step S13, thereby storing the id stored in the database 223. In step S16, it is verified whether or not ids corresponding to these are received from the other systems 1 and 210.

  As a result of the verification in step S16, if there is an id stored in the database 223 that matches this id and has not been received from the other systems 1 and 210 (that is, the “missing” state), the system 2 , 220 retrieves the e-mail having the corresponding id from the database 223 and transfers it to the other systems 1 and 210 (step S17).

  Here, when the mail relay server 100 receives an e-mail from the customer system, two e-mails having the same contents as described above, that is, a first e-mail and a second e-mail are prepared, and the same id is assigned to each e-mail. Then, the first e-mail is transferred to the systems 1 and 210, and the second e-mail is transferred to the systems 2 and 220.

  In the example of FIG. 3, sequential numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are sequentially assigned to the first e-mail and transferred to the systems 1 and 210. Similarly, the second e-mail is also set to the id. The same sequential numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are sequentially assigned and transferred to the system 2,220.

  Therefore, the first e-mail with id = 1 and the second e-mail with id = 1 have the same contents, and the first e-mail with id = 2 and the second e-mail with id = 2 Have the same contents, the first e-mail with id = 3 and the second e-mail with id = 3 have the same contents, and so on.

  In normal operation, that is, when both the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 are operating normally, the loop of steps S3 to S6 is repeated in the system 1, 210, and similarly, the steps S13 to S16 in the system 2, 220 are repeated. The loop is repeated.

  That is, it is an electronic mail relayed from the mail relay server 100 in normal times, and the same sequential number is assigned as the id by each mail relay server as described above, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in the illustrated example. (Step S2) The first and second electronic mails are received by the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220, respectively.

  In the systems 1 and 210, when the first electronic mail is received, it is stored in the database 213 together with the id (step S3).

  Therefore, in the above example, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is stored in the database 213. Then, the systems 1 and 210 notify these stored ids = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 by transmitting them to the other systems 2 and 220.

  Similarly, when the system 2 220 receives the second electronic mail, it stores it in the database 223 together with the id (step S13).

  Therefore, in the above example, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is stored in the database 223. Then, the system 2 220 notifies these stored id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 by transmitting them to the other systems 1,210.

  In the system 1, 210, when the id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the second electronic mail transmitted in this way from the system 2 220 is received, the first electronic mail stored in the database 213 is received. It is verified whether or not all ids corresponding to id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 have been received from the system 2, 220 (steps S4, 5, 6).

  Here, as described above, since the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 can receive all the first and second e-mails, respectively, as described above, the first electron received in the system 1, 210 can be received. All the second electronic mails having the same contents as the mails are also received by the systems 2 and 220. Thus, the respective ids of the first electronic mails received by the systems 1 and 210 are 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. , 5 and the respective id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the second e-mail received in the system 2,220 should all match each other.

  As a result, the systems 1 and 210 should receive from the systems 2 and 220 all ids that match the ids of the first email stored in the database 213 = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. .

  Therefore, in this case, the systems 1 and 210 have received from the other systems 2 and 220 ids corresponding to all of the ids stored in the database 213 in the verification in step S6 (this state is referred to as “no missing state” hereinafter). The process returns to step S4, and thereafter, the loop of steps S4-S6 is repeated until it is determined in step S6 that there is a “missing” state.

  Similarly, when the system 2, 220 receives the id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the first electronic mail transmitted from the system 1, 210 as described above, the second electronic stored in the database 223 is received. It is verified whether all the ids corresponding to the mail ids = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 have been received from the systems 1 and 210 (steps S14, 15, and 16).

  Here, as described above, since the first and second e-mails can be received by the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220, respectively, as described above, the second electron received by the system 2, 220 is received. All of the first electronic mails having the same contents as the mails are also received by the systems 1 and 210, so that the respective ids of the second electronic mails received by the systems 2 and 220 are 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. , 5 and the respective id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the first e-mail received in the system 1,210 should all match each other.

  As a result, the system 2, 220 should receive from the systems 1, 210 all ids that match the ids 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the second e-mail stored in the database 223. .

  Accordingly, in this case, the system 2, 220 has received from the other systems 1, 210 the ids that match all of the ids stored in the database 223 in the verification of step S16 (that is, the “no missing” state). The determination result is obtained, and the process returns to step S14. Thereafter, the loop of steps S14 to S16 is repeated until it is determined in step S16 that there is a “missing” state.

  Next, it is assumed that there is an abnormality, that is, one of the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 enters a system stop state for some reason and cannot receive an e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100.

  Here, as an example, the system 2, 220 temporarily enters the system stop state and then recovers, and as a result, it is the second electronic mail transferred from the mail relay server as described above, and id = 1, 2, Assume that only e-mails having 3, 4, and 5 have not been received with id = 3.

  In this case, the system 2 220 stores the received second e-mail having the id = 1, 2, 4, 5 in the database 223 together with the id = 1, 2, 4, 5 ( Along with step S13), these IDs = 1, 2, 4, and 5 are sent to the other systems 1 and 210 for notification.

  On the other hand, the systems 1 and 210 operate normally during that time, and receive all of the first e-mails transferred from the mail relay server 100 and having id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 The received first electronic mail having id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is stored in the database 213 together with the id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (step S3). ).

  In the systems 1 and 210, all the ids = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 that match the ids 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 stored in the database 213 in this way are obtained from the other systems 2 and 220. It is verified whether it has been received (steps S5 and S6).

  As described above, ids received from the other systems 2, 220 are id = 1, 2, 4, 5, and id = 3 is missing (that is, missing). Is determined.

  In this case, the system 1 and 210 shifts to step S7, takes out an e-mail having id = 3 related to the omission from the database 213 and transfers it to the other systems 2 and 220.

  As a result, in the systems 2 and 220, the e-mail having the same content as the e-mail of id = 3 that could not be received from the mail relay server 100 due to the system stop is transferred from the systems 1 and 210.

  As a result, in the systems 2 and 220, the second e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100, and among the ids = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the e-mail with id = 3 that could not be received due to the system stoppage Will be compensated.

  As a result, the systems 1 and 210 hold the first e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100 and have id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the systems 2 and 220 have the mail relay server 100. The second e-mail transferred from the e-mail with id = 1, 2, 4, 5 and the first e-mail supplemented by the transfer from the system 1, 210 as described above, with id = 3 And an e-mail having the same content as the e-mail.

  Therefore, both the system 1,210 and the system 2,220 hold e-mails with id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and the consistency between the e-mails possessed by both is ensured.

  In the case of the above assumption example, after the system 2, 220 is recovered from the system stop, the e-mail from the mail relay server received by both the system 1, 210, the system 2, 220 as described above, that is, the first Since the ids of the e-mail and the second e-mail coincide with each other, the “no omission” state is maintained, so that the loop of steps S4 to S6 is repeated in the systems 1 and 210, and the step S14 in the systems 2 and 220. -The loop of S16 is repeated.

  Next, an e-mail relay method according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this case, as shown in the figure, the mail relay server 100A is provided with two systems having the same configuration, that is, servers A and 110, and servers B and 120, and one of them (that is, the main system and the production system). The other server (that is, the standby system and the standby system) is in a standby state while performing the same operation as the one server. That is, a so-called hot standby system is adopted.

  In the case of the second embodiment, the server A, 110 or the server B, 120 performs the same function as the mail relay server 100 in the above-described first embodiment, and all other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. The operation is the same as that of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  Next, an e-mail relay method according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 shows a system configuration for realizing the electronic mail relay method according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the e-mail relay method according to the third embodiment, a load balancer 50 that receives e-mail from a customer system, and two units that receive e-mail from a customer system via the load balancer 50. A mail relay server, that is, a mail relay server 1, 100B1 and a mail relay server 2, 100B2 are provided.

  The load balancer 50 distributes the electronic mail received from the customer system to these mail relay servers 1, 100B1, mail relay servers 2, 100B2. In other words, the load balancer 50 transfers the received electronic mail to the mail relay server 1, 100B1 in some cases and forwards it to the mail relay server 2, 100B2 in other cases.

  In this way, the load distribution apparatus 50 transfers a certain quantity of e-mails among the received e-mails to the relay servers 1 and 100B1, and transfers the remaining quantity of e-mails to the relay servers 2 and 100B2.

  In this way, the mail relay servers 1 and 100B1 and the mail relay servers 2 and 100B2 distribute the electronic mail relayed by the load balancer 50, so that each electronic mail is shared and relayed. In this way, the loads on the mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 are distributed to each other.

  The electronic mail relayed by each relay server 100B1, 100B2 is transferred to each system 1, 210 and system 2, 220B as information processing apparatuses that receive and process the electronic mail.

  In each of these systems 210 and 220, the e-mail transferred in this way is temporarily stored in the mailboxes 212 and 222 and then processed by the applications 211 and 221. The contents of each e-mail are stored in the databases 213 and 223. Accumulated.

  As described above, since the e-mail is distributed by the load balancer 50 before arriving at the respective mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2, the e-mail to be relayed is one of the mail relay servers 1, 10B1 and the mail relay servers 2, 100B2. Relayed by only one of them.

  Therefore, in the systems 1, 210, system 2, 210B that receive the relay, it is necessary to specify which of the two mail relay servers 100B1, 100B2 is the email relayed by the mail relay server.

  Therefore, each mail relay server 100B1 and 100B2 can distinguish which mail relay server of the two mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 relays as the id given to the electronic mail relayed by itself. , Each with a distinct system id.

  That is, the mail relay server 1, 100B1 attaches the id of the first system to the relayed e-mail, and the mail relay server 2, 100B2 transmits the id of the second system different from the first system. Attached.

  As an example of the ids of the first system and the second system, in the third embodiment, the mail relay server 2, 100B2 adds “s” to the head of each id, and the mail relay server 1, 100B1 has the head of each id. Do not add "s" to That is, in this example, the id of the first system is a sequential number, and the id of the second system is a sequential number with “s” added to the head.

  As a result, when the “missing” state occurs in each of the systems 210 and 210, it is specified which of the mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 is associated with the relay of the missing e-mail. It becomes possible. Therefore, when sending the missing email to the other party, it is possible to send the correct email.

  Hereinafter, the flow of processing by the electronic mail relay method according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when receiving an electronic mail from the customer system (step S31), the load distribution apparatus 50 distributes the electronic mail to one of the mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 and transfers it (step S32).

  When the e-mail transferred from the load balancer 50 is received in the mail relay server 1, 100B1 (step S33), the e-mail is relayed and transferred to the systems 1, 210, system 2, 220 (step S34).

  Here, when the email relay server 1, 100B1 relays the email transferred from the load balancer 50, the email relay server 1, 100B1 forwards the email to the systems 1, 210 and sends the email having the same contents as the email to the system 2, 210. Also forward to 220. That is, two e-mails having the same contents are prepared, one of them (referred to as the first e-mail) is transferred to the systems 1 and 210, and the other one (referred to as the second e-mail). ) To system 2,220.

  In step S34, the mail relay server 1, 100B1 transfers each e-mail to each system 1, 210, system 2, 220 as described above (ie, the first e-mail and the second e-mail). Are assigned the same first system sequential identifier, id. As a result, the first and second electronic mails having the same id have the same content.

  Here, as the id of the first system given to the e-mail to be transferred when the e-mail relay server 1, 100B1 transfers the e-mail to the system 1, 210, system 2, 220, a serial number, that is, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... are assigned.

  On the other hand, when the e-mail transferred from the load balancer 50 is received in the mail relay server 2 or 100B2 (step S43), the e-mail is relayed and transferred to each of the systems 1, 210, and systems 2 and 220 (step S44).

  Here, also in the mail relay server 2, 100 B 2, when relaying the electronic mail transferred from the load balancer 50, the electronic mail is transferred to the systems 1, 210 and the electronic mail having the same content as the electronic mail is sent to the system. 2, 220 is also transferred.

  That is, the mail relay server 2, 100B2 prepares two e-mails having the same contents, forwards one of them (referred to as a third e-mail) to the system 1, 210, and sends another e-mail (this) (Referred to as the fourth e-mail).

  In step S44, the mail relay server 2, 100B2 transfers each e-mail to each system 1, 210, system 2, 220 as described above (ie, the third e-mail and the fourth e-mail). Are assigned the same, sequential identifiers and ids of the second system. As a result, the third and fourth emails having the same id have the same content.

  At that time, the mail relay server 2, 100B2 has the second system id added to the e-mail to be transferred when the e-mail is transferred to the system 1, 210, system 2, 220 as described above. “S” is added so that it can be distinguished from the relay related to the servers 1 and 100B1.

  That is, "s" is added to the head of the serial number as the id of the second system that is given to the e-mail to be transferred when the e-mail relay server 2, 100B2 transfers the e-mail to the system 1, 210, system 2, 220. That is, id = s1, s2, s3,.

  In the systems 1 and 210, when the first or third electronic mail transferred from the mail relay server 1 or 100B1 or the mail relay server 2 or 100B2 is received in this way, the electronic mail is transmitted by the mail relay server as described above. The e-mail is stored in the database 213 together with the id assigned to (Step S51). In the systems 1 and 210, the id stored in the database 213 in this way is notified by periodically transmitting to the other systems 2 and 220.

  Similarly, in the system 2, 220, when the second or fourth e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100B1 or 100B2 as described above is received, along with the id assigned to the e-mail by the mail relay server as described above, The electronic mail is stored in the database 223 (step S61). Further, the system 2 220 notifies the ID stored in the database 223 in this manner by periodically transmitting it to the other systems 1 and 210.

  In step S52, the systems 1 and 210 receive what is periodically transmitted from the other systems 2 and 220 in the database 223 of the other systems 2 and 220 as described above.

  Similarly, in step S62, the systems 2 and 220 receive what is periodically transmitted from the other systems 1 and 210 to the id stored in the database 213 of the other systems 1 and 210 as described above.

  In step S53, the systems 1 and 210 compare all the ids stored in the database 213 by comparing the ids received from the other systems 2 and 220 in step S52 with the ids stored in the database 213 in step S51. And verifying whether or not ids that match those are received from the other systems 2 and 220 (steps S53 and S54).

  When the systems 1 and 210 compare the ids in step S53, the ids of the first system of the second e-mail received from the other systems 2 and 220 in step S52 and the first system stored in the database 213 are used. The id of the first system of the first e-mail is compared with the id of the second system of the fourth e-mail received in step S52 from the other system 2, 220 and the first system stored in the database 213. Compare the id of the second system of 3 emails.

  As a result of the verification in step S54, if the id of the first system stored in the database 213 is the same as the id of the first system that has not been received from the other systems 2, 220 (ie, In the “with omission” state), the systems 1 and 210 retrieve the first electronic mail having the corresponding first system id from the database 213 and transfer it to the other systems 2 and 220 (step S55). .

  As a result of the verification in step S54, if the id of the second system stored in the database 213 is the same as the id of the second system that has not been received from the other systems 2 and 220 ( In other words, in the “with omission state”, the systems 1 and 210 take out the third e-mail having the corresponding second system id from the database 213 and transfer it to the other systems 2 and 220 (step S55). ).

  Similarly, in step S62, the system 2, 220 compares the id received from the other systems 1, 210 in step S61 with the id stored in the database 223 in step S61, thereby storing the id stored in the database 223. It is verified whether or not ids matching them are received from the other systems 1 and 210 (steps S63 and S64).

  When the system 2 220 compares the ids in step S 63, the id of the first system of the first e-mail received from the other systems 1, 210 in step S 62 and the first system stored in the database 223 are used. 2 is compared with the id of the first system of the second e-mail, and the id of the second system of the third e-mail received from the other systems 1 and 210 in step S62 is stored in the database 223. Compare the id of the second system of the 4 e-mails.

  As a result of the verification in step S64, when the id of the first system stored in the database 223 has not been received from the other systems 1 and 210, i.e. In the “with omission” state), the system 2, 220 retrieves the second e-mail having the corresponding first id from the database 223 and transfers it to the other systems 1, 210 (step S65).

  As a result of the verification in step S64, if the id of the second system stored in the database 223 has not been received from the other systems 1 and 210, the id of the second system that matches this is found ( That is, in the “with omission” state), the system 2, 220 retrieves the fourth electronic mail having the corresponding second id from the database 223 and transfers it to the other systems 1, 210 (step S65).

  Here, when each of the mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 receives an electronic mail from the load balancer 50, two electronic mails having the same contents as described above, that is, the first electronic mail and the second electronic mail, or A third e-mail and a second e-mail are prepared, the same first system id is assigned to the first and second e-mails, and the same first system is assigned to the third and fourth e-mails. Give the id of the system of 2.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the mail relay server 1, 100B1 sequentially assigns sequential numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 as the first system id to the first electronic mail to the systems 1,210. Similarly, the same sequential numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are sequentially assigned to the second e-mail as the first system id, and transferred to the system 2, 220.

  Therefore, the first e-mail with id = 1 and the second e-mail with id = 1 have the same contents, and the first e-mail with id = 2 and the second e-mail with id = 2 Have the same contents, the first e-mail with id = 3 and the second e-mail with id = 3 have the same contents, and so on.

  Similarly, the mail relay server 2, 100 B 2 sequentially assigns s 1, s 2, s 3 with “s” added to the third e-mail as the id of the second system, and forwards them to the systems 1, 210. Similarly, s1, s2, and s3 with “s” added to the same sequential numbers as the ids of the second system are sequentially assigned to the fourth e-mail and transferred to the system 2 and 220.

  Therefore, the third e-mail with id = s1 and the fourth e-mail with id = s1 have the same contents, and the third e-mail with id = s2 and the fourth e-mail with id = s2 Have the same contents, the third e-mail with id = s3 and the fourth e-mail with id = s3 have the same contents, and so on.

  Here, during normal operation, that is, when both the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 are operating normally, the loop of steps S52 to S54 is repeated in the system 1, 210, and the steps in the system 2, 220 are similarly performed. The loop of S62 to S64 is repeated.

  That is, it is an e-mail relayed from the mail relay server 1, 100B1 in normal times, and as described above, the same sequential number, 1, 2, 3, 4 as the id of the first system by each of the mail relay servers. , 5 (step S34), the first and second electronic mails are received by the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220, respectively.

  Similarly, e-mails relayed from the mail relay server 2, 100B2, as described above, s1, s2 with "s" appended to the same sequential number as the id of the second system by each of the mail relay servers , S3 (step S44), the third and fourth e-mails are received by the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220, respectively.

  In the systems 1 and 210, when the first e-mail or the third e-mail is received, it is stored in the database 213 together with the id of the first system or the second system (step S51). Therefore, in the above example, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id = s1, s2, s3 is stored in the database 213. Then, the systems 1 and 210 notify the other systems 2 and 220 by transmitting the stored id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id = s1, s2, s3.

  Similarly, when receiving the second e-mail or the fourth e-mail, the systems 2 and 220 store them in the database 223 together with the ids of the first system or the second system (step S61). Therefore, in the above example, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id = s1, s2, s3 is stored in the database 223. The systems 21 and 220 notify these stored id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id = s1, s2, s3 by transmitting them to the other systems 1,210.

  In the system 1, 210, the id of the first system of the second electronic mail transmitted in this way from the system 2 220 is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or the second of the fourth electronic mail. When the system id = s1, s2, s3 is received, the first system id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the first e-mail stored in the database 213 or the second e-mail second It is verified whether all ids that match id = s1, s2, s3 have been received from the system 2, 220 (steps S52, 53, 54).

  Here, as described above, the first and second e-mails or the third and fourth e-mails can be received in the systems 1, 210 and the systems 2, 220, respectively, as described above. Therefore, the second e-mail or the fourth e-mail having the same contents as the first e-mail or the third e-mail received in the systems 1 and 210 are all received also in the system 2 and 220. Thus, the first system's kid of each first electronic mail received at the systems 1, 210 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or the third system's second system's id = s1, s2, s3 and id of each first system of second electronic mail received in the system 2, 220 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or second of each fourth electronic mail. In all of the systems, id = s1, s2, and s3 should match each other.

  As a result, in the systems 1 and 210, id of the first system of the first electronic mail stored in the database 213 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id of the second system of the third electronic mail = All ids matching each of s1, s2, s3 should be received from system 2,220.

  Therefore, in the verification in step S54, the systems 1 and 210 receive from the other systems 2 and 220 the ids of the first system that match those of all the ids of the first system stored in the database 213, and the databases. For all the second system ids stored in 213, the second system ids that coincide with them are received from the other systems 2 and 220 (that is, “no omission” state).

  In this case, the process returns to step S52, and thereafter, the loop of steps S51 to S54 is repeated until it is determined in step S54 that there is a “missing” state.

  Similarly, in the system 2, 220, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the first system of the first e-mail transmitted from the systems 1 and 210 as described above or the third e-mail of the first e-mail is sent. When id = s1, s2, s3 of the second system is received, id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the first system of the second electronic mail stored in the database 223 or the first of the fourth electronic mail It is verified whether or not all ids that match id = s1, s2, and s3 of the system of 2 have been received from the systems 1 and 210 (steps S62, 63, and 64).

  Here, as described above, the first and second e-mails or the third and fourth e-mails can be received in the systems 1, 210 and the systems 2, 220, respectively, as described above.

  For this reason, the first e-mail or the third e-mail having the same contents as the second e-mail or the fourth e-mail received in the systems 2 and 220 are also received in the systems 1 and 210. , Id of each first system of the second e-mail received in the system 2, 220 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id of the second system of the fourth e-mail = s1, s2. , S3 and id of the first system of each first e-mail received in the system 1, 210 = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or id of the second system of the third e-mail = All of s1, s2, and s3 should match each other.

  As a result, in the system 2, 220, all the ids of the first system that match the ids 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the database 223 are all systems. 1, 210, and the second system id corresponding to each of the second system id = s 1, s 2, s 3 of the fourth e-mail is all from the system 1, 210. Should be received.

  Therefore, in the verification of step S64, the system 2, 220 receives from the other systems 1, 210 the first system id that matches them for all the first system ids stored in the database 223. In this case, the ID of the second system that matches the IDs of the second system stored in the H.223 is received from the other systems 1 and 210 (that is, the “no omission” state). Returning to step S62, the loop of steps S62 to S64 is repeated until it is determined in step S64 that there is a missing state.

  Next, it is assumed that there is an abnormality, that is, one of the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 enters a system stop state for some reason and cannot receive an e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 100B1 or 100B2. .

  Here, as an example, for each of the systems 1, 210, and systems 2 and 220 from the mail relay server 2 and 100B2, the third and fourth electronics respectively having the second system id = s1, s2, and s3, respectively. When the mail is transferred, the system 2, 220 temporarily enters the system stop state and then recovers. As a result, the fourth electronic mail transferred from the mail relay server 2, 100B2 as described above It is assumed that only e-mail with id = s2 is not received by the system 2, 220 among e-mails with id = s1, s2, s3 in the system of 2.

  In this case, the system 2, 220 stores the received fourth e-mail having the second system id = s1, s3 in the database 223 together with the id = s1, s3 (step Along with S61), these id = s1 and s3 are sent to the other systems 1 and 210 for notification.

  On the other hand, the systems 1 and 210 operate normally in the meantime, and receive all the third e-mails transferred from the mail relay server 100B2 and having id = s1, s2, s3 of the first system. Then, the received third e-mail having id = s1, s2, s3 is stored in the database 213 together with the id = s1, s2, s3 (step S51).

  In the systems 1 and 210, all of the second systems id = s1, s2, and s3 that match the ids of the second system stored in the database 213 in this way are s1, s2, and s3. (Steps S53 and S54).

  As described above, the ids of the second system received from the other systems 2, 220 are id = s1, s3, that is, id = s2 is missing (that is, missing). It is determined that there is a “missing” state.

  In this case, the systems 1 and 210 move to step S55, take out the third electronic mail having id = s2 related to the omission from the database 213, and transfer it to the other systems 2 and 220.

  As a result, in the system 2, 220, the third e-mail having the same content as the fourth e-mail with id = s2 that could not be received from the mail relay server 2, 100B2 due to the system stop state is the system. 1 and 210 are transferred. As a result, in the system 2, 220, the fourth e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 2, 100B2, and the id = s1, s2, s3 e-mails with id = s2 that could not be received due to the system stoppage E-mail supplementation has been made.

  As a result, the systems 1 and 210 hold the third e-mail transferred from the mail relay server 2 and 100B2 and have id = s1, s2, and s3, and the systems 2 and 220 have the mail relay server 2 The fourth e-mail transferred from 100B2 with id = s1, s3, and the third e-mail supplemented by transfer from the system 1,210 as described above, with id = s2. E-mail having the same content as the fourth e-mail is held.

  Therefore, the consistency between the e-mails included in both the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 is ensured.

  In the case of the above assumed example, after the system 2, 220 is recovered from the system stop, as described above, the mail relay server 2, 100B2 or the mail relay received by both the system 1, 210, the system 2, 220 is used. The e-mails from the server 1, 100B1, that is, the third e-mail and the fourth e-mail or the first e-mail and the second e-mail are maintained in the “no omission” state because their ids match each other. Accordingly, the loop of steps S52 to S54 is repeated in the systems 1 and 210, and the loop of steps S62 to S64 is repeated in the systems 2 and 220.

  In the third embodiment, as described above, the load balancer 50 is interposed, and the electronic mail from the customer system is relayed by one of the two mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2. In such a configuration, when the same id is assigned to the two mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2, the same id may be assigned to different electronic mails. When such a situation occurs, in order to maintain the integrity of the e-mail between the systems 1, 210, 2 and 220, when the ids of the e-mails received by both parties are compared with each other, a correct comparison cannot be performed. It becomes impossible to maintain the consistency of the e-mail between 1, 210 and the system 2 220.

  In order to prevent such a situation, in the third embodiment, as described above, different systems, that is, ids of the first system and the second system are assigned to the two mail relay servers 1 and 2, respectively.

  Specifically, in one of the two mail relay servers, the letter “s” is added to the head of the id for the purpose of distinguishing from the email related to the relay by the other mail relay server (No. 2), and other mail relay servers do not prefix the id with characters (first system).

  As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the ids overlap between the emails related to the relays of the two mail relay servers, thereby maintaining the integrity of the emails between the systems 1, 210 and 2,220. Therefore, correct comparison is made when the ids of the emails received by both parties are compared with each other, so that the integrity of the emails can be reliably maintained between the systems 1,210 and 2,220. It becomes like this.

  In the third embodiment, there are two mail relay servers for distributing the electronic mail by the load balancer 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the number of mail relay servers for distributing the electronic mail by the load balancer 50 may be three or more. Is possible. In such a case, the ids assigned to the respective mail relay servers are of different systems so that there is no duplication of id between the emails relayed by each of the three or more mail relay servers.

  Further, in the configuration in which any one of the plurality of mail relay servers relays the electronic mail, the method for making the systems different from each other in order to avoid duplication of id between the plurality of mail relay servers is as described above. The method is not limited to adding the letter “s”.

  The internal configuration of each component constituting each of the above embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the internal configuration of each component for carrying out the electronic mail relay method according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the mail relay server 100 includes a mail reception unit 11, an identifier generation unit 12, and a mail transfer unit 13.

  In the mail relay server 100 having such a configuration, the mail receiving unit 11 receives an electronic mail transmitted from the customer system, the identifier generating unit 12 generates the identifier id to be attached to the received electronic mail, and Append to the mail header. In the mail transfer unit 13, each of the e-mails, in which the identifier id is generated by the identifier generation unit 12 and added to the header, has the same contents and the same identifier id, that is, the first electronic mail A mail and a second electronic mail are prepared and transmitted to the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220, respectively.

  The systems 1 and 210 and the systems 2 and 220 are respectively the mail receiving units 21-1 and 21-2, the mail processing units 22-1 and 22-2, the data storage units 23-1 and 23-2, and the cooperative transfer unit 24-. 1, 24-2, comparison processing units 25-1, 25-2, comparison reception units 26-1, 26-2, and comparison notification units 27-1 and 27-2.

  In each system 210 or 220, the mail receiving units 21-1, 21-2 receive the email from the mail relay server 100, the mail processing units 22-1 and 22-2 analyze the contents of the email, The e-mail itself and the id attached to the header are stored in the data storage units 23-1 and 23-2.

  The comparison notification units 27-1 and 27-2 transmit the e-mail id stored in the data storage units 23-1 and 23-2 to the other system 220 or 210 in this way, and the comparison reception unit 26. -1,26-2 receives the id transmitted from the other system 220 or 210.

  The comparison processing units 25-1 and 25-2 receive the ids stored in the data storage units 23-1 and 23-2 and the other systems 220 and 210 received by the comparison reception units 26-1 and 26-2. Whether the id of the e-mail received by the other system received from the other system is included in the id of the e-mail received by the other system. Verify that.

  As a result of this verification, if any id that matches the id of the email received by itself is not included in the id of the email received by the other system, the email received by the other system The e-mail having the id that is not included in the id is taken out from the data storage units 23-1 and 23-2 and transferred to another system by the cooperative transfer units 24-1 and 24-2.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the internal configuration of each component for implementing the electronic mail relay method according to the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the mail relay server 100 includes the servers A and 110 and the servers B and 120 as described above, and each of the servers A and 110, and the servers B and 120 is a mail receiving unit 11−. 1, 11-2, identifier generation units 12-1 and 12-2, and mail transfer units 13-1 and 13-2.

  These mail receivers 11-1 and 11-2, identifier generators 12-1 and 12-2, and mail transfer units 13-1 and 13-2 are respectively the mail receivers 11 and 11 in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Since it has the same configuration as the identifier generation unit 12 and the mail transfer unit 13 and has the same function, duplicate description is omitted.

  The systems 210 and 220 have the same configuration as the systems 210 and 220 of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Corresponding components are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining the internal configuration of each component for implementing the electronic mail relay method according to the third embodiment.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, two mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 are provided, and these two mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 share and relay an electronic mail.

  Each of the mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 includes mail receiving units 11-1B and 11-2B, identifier generating units 12-1B and 12-2B, and mail transfer units 13-1B and 13-2B.

  These mail receivers 11-1B and 11-2B, identifier generators 12-1B and 12-2B, and mail transfer units 13-1B and 13-2B are respectively the same as the mail receivers 11 and 11 of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Since it has the same configuration as the identifier generation unit 12 and the mail transfer unit 13 and has the same function, duplicate description is omitted.

  However, as described above, in the third embodiment, it is necessary that the ids attached to the electronic mail relayed by the mail relay servers 100B1 and 100B2 be different system ids that can be distinguished between the mail relay servers.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the identifier generation unit 12-1B of the mail relay server 1, 100B1 attaches id = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,... (First system) as a sequential number. The identifier generation unit 12-2B of the mail relay server 2, 100B2 has id = s1, s2, s3, s4, s5,... (Second system) is attached.

  Each system 210, 220 has the same configuration as each system 210, 220 described above with reference to FIG. 8, and has the same function. Each corresponding component is denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant description is omitted.

  However, in the case of Example 3, as described above, the comparison processing units 25-1 and 25-2 compare the ids of the first system with respect to the different systems, that is, the ids of the first system and the second system. By comparing ids of the second system, it is verified whether there is any missing e-mail in any of the systems.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining a maintenance management system to which the e-mail relay method according to each of the above embodiments can be applied.

  As shown in FIG. 11, this maintenance management system has a customer system A, a customer system B, and a customer system C that are maintenance management targets, and a maintenance center that maintains and manages these customer systems.

  The maintenance management center is provided with a system 1 and a system 2 corresponding to the system 1, 210 and the system 2, 220 in the above embodiments, respectively. These systems 1 and 2 are customer systems via a public network such as the Internet. Connected.

  In the maintenance management system having such a configuration, each customer system is provided with a notification function for notifying information indicating the current status of the system, and the current status of the system in the form of an e-mail by the notification function. Is transmitted to the systems 1 and 2 of the maintenance management center.

  When each system 1 or 2 receives a notification by e-mail of information indicating the current status of the customer system in this way, the contents are presented to the service provider. In this way, the service provider grasps the current state of the customer system, and performs various maintenance services such as arranging maintenance personnel for the customer system and contacting the customer as necessary.

  In such a maintenance management center (that is, the remote support center), it is necessary to grasp the status of the customer system 24 hours a day 365 days a year. On the other hand, in the systems 1 and 2 as information processing apparatuses that receive an e-mail from a customer system and perform information processing, there is a case where the system stop is unavoidable for the purpose of hardware maintenance or firmware revision as described above. is assumed. Even in such a case, the systems 1 and 2 are configured in a duplex configuration so as not to interrupt the grasping of the status of the customer system.

  Then, by verifying the integrity of the e-mail held by each of the systems 1 and 2, it is possible to confirm that the e-mail sent from the customer system has been received and held securely, and thus the maintenance management center. The reliability of maintenance management work in can be secured.

  By applying the e-mail relay method according to each embodiment of the present invention to such a maintenance management center, a system stop occurs in one of the systems 1 and 2 having the double configuration as described above, and the customer system Even if a situation in which an e-mail cannot be received occurs and the integrity of the e-mail held between the systems 1 and 2 is temporarily broken, this is automatically performed according to the procedure described above with reference to FIGS. Thus, the integrity is automatically ensured by filling in the e-mail that is detected and missing in any of the systems.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram for explaining a specific example of information exchange between the systems 1, 210, and systems 2 and 220 in the above embodiments.

  In FIG. 12, it is assumed that in steps S81 and S82, the systems 210 and 220 have received e-mail transfer from the mail relay server and acquired id = 1 and s1.

  In step S83, id = 1, s1 acquired from the e-mail received by itself is transmitted from the system 1,210 to the system 2,220.

  In response to this, the systems 2 and 220 compare the id = 1 and s1 of the e-mail received from the mail relay server with the id = 1 and s1 received from the systems 1 and 210 in step S83 (step S83). S84).

  As a result, both agree. Therefore, next, the system 2, 220 transmits id = 1, s1 acquired from the electronic mail received by itself to the systems 1, 210 (step S85).

  In response to this, the systems 1 and 210 compare id = 1, s1 of the e-mail received from the mail relay server with id = 1, s1 received from the system 2, 220 in step S85 (step S85). S86).

  As a result, both agree. Therefore, after that, the systems 1 and 210 and the systems 2 and 220 wait for a further e-mail transfer from the mail relay server.

  Thereafter, an e-mail having id = 2 is received as an e-mail to the systems 1 and 210 from the mail relay server (step S87), an e-mail having id = 3 is received (step S88), and an e-mail having id = 4 is received. Assume that a mail is received (step S89).

  On the other hand, an e-mail with id = 2, s2 is received as an e-mail to the system 2, 220 from the mail relay server (step S90), and an e-mail with id = 3, s3 is received (step S91). Assume that an e-mail having = 4, s4 is received (step S92).

  That is, in this case, all e-mails having id = 2, s2, 3, s3, 4 and s4 relayed by the mail relay server have been received by the system 2, 220. , 210, the e-mail having id = 2, 3, 4 is not received, and only the e-mail having id = s2, s3, s4 is received.

  In such a case, in step S93, id = 2, 3, and 4 acquired from the e-mail received by the system 1, 210 to the system 2, 220 are transmitted.

  In the systems 2 and 220 that have received this, id = 2, s2, 3, s3, 4, s4 of the e-mail received from the mail relay server, and id = 2 received from the systems 1, 210 in step S93. , 3 and 4 are compared (step S94). As a result, the systems 2 and 220 are that id = s2, s3, and s4 are not included in the id = 2, 3, and 4 received from the systems 1 and 210 among the ids of the emails received by the system 2 and 220. recognize.

  As a result, the system 2,220 retrieves e-mails having these missing ids = 2, 3, and 4 from its own database and transmits them to the systems 1 and 210 (step S95).

  In the systems 1 and 210, the transmitted e-mails with id = 2, 3, and 4 are stored in the database (step S96).

  As a result, in the systems 1 and 210, e-mails having id = 2, 3 and 4 that could not be received for some reason as described above are transferred from the systems 2 and 220 to be compensated. The contents of the e-mail held by the e-mail are e-mails having id = 2, s2, 3, s3, 4 and s4, respectively, and they match.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram for explaining the details of the method of assigning the identifier id by the mail relay server in each of the above embodiments.

  As described above, in the mail relay server, the identifier generator 12 (or 12) is used for the electronic mail from the customer system received by the mail receiver 11 (or 11-1, 11-2, 11-1B, 11-2B). −1, 12-2, 12-1B, 12-2B), and the mail transfer unit 13 (or 13-1, 13-2, 13-1B, 13-2B) Transferred to systems 210, 220.

  Here, for example, the identifier numbering method in the identifier generation unit 12 (or 12-1, 12-2, 12-1B, 12-2B) is as follows.

  That is, as the first step, when the identifier generating unit 12 receives the electronic mail received from the mail receiving unit 11, as the second step, the latest identifier number is obtained from the number management file 14 of the prepared identifier number. get.

  Next, as a third step, the identifier number acquired in the second step is added to the mail header of the electronic mail acquired in the first step.

  Next, as a fourth step, 1 is added to the identifier number acquired in the second step, and the result is added to the numbering management file 14.

  The initial value of the identifier number is 1.

  Further, in the case of the third embodiment, in order to be able to specify the mail relay server relayed as described above, the identifier system is made different by putting a unique character at the head in the identifier id.

  As a result, a unique identifier number can be obtained for each mail relay server.

  In addition, the numbering of this identifier number corresponds to cyclicization, that is, the number that can be numbered is limited, and when it reaches the upper limit, it returns to 1.

  Specifically, for example, if the data width of the identifier number is 9 bytes, the first digit is used as a unique character for specifying the mail relay server, and the other 8 digits are used as cyclical sequential numbers. And

  In the case of this example, since the sequential number part is 8 bytes, numbering up to “99999999” is possible.

  FIG. 14 is a configuration example of a computer for explaining a case where each of the mail relay server, the system 210, and the system 220 in the configuration for realizing the electronic mail relay method according to each embodiment of the present invention is realized by a computer. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the computer 1500 includes a CPU 1501 for executing various operations by executing instructions described in a given program, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and a user inputs operation contents or data. Operation unit 1502, a display unit 1503 composed of a CRT, a liquid crystal display, etc., which displays processing progress and processing results by the CPU 1501 to the user, and a program, data, etc., composed of ROM, RAM, etc. and executed by the CPU 1504. A memory 1504 used as a work area, a hard disk device 1505 for storing programs, data, etc., a CD-ROM drive 1506 for loading programs and data from outside via a CD-ROM 1507, and the Internet , LAN, etc. And a modem 1508 for downloading such a program from an external server via a network 1509.

  The computer 1500 uses a CD-ROM 1507 as a medium or a communication network 1509 as a medium, and a mail relay server and system 210 in a configuration for realizing the electronic mail relay method according to each embodiment of the present invention described above with reference to FIGS. A program consisting of instructions for causing the CPU 1501 to execute the operations executed by each of the systems 220 is loaded or downloaded. Then, this is installed in the hard disk device 1505, loaded into the memory 1504 as appropriate, and executed by the CPU 1501. As a result, the functions of the mail relay server, the system 210, and the system 220 are realized by the computer 1500.

  In each of the above embodiments, in each of the systems 210 and 220, the other party notified by the other party, which is stored in its own database and received from the mail relay server as a reference, is notified by the other party. Although it has the structure which verifies the id of the email received from the server, it does not necessarily need to be caught by this structure.

  That is, in each system 210, 220, the electronic mail received from the mail relay server, stored in its own database, based on the id of the electronic mail received from the mail relay server by the other party notified by the other party. It may be configured to verify the mail id. In such a configuration, in each of the systems 210 and 220, one of the ids that are notified from the other party and that matches the id of the email received by the other party from the mail relay server is stored in its own database. If the stored self is not included in the id of the e-mail received from the mail relay server, send the e-mail with the id not included, that is, the missing e-mail from the other party It is necessary to get. Therefore, the other party is requested to send the missing e-mail. When the corresponding electronic mail is received from the other party, it is stored in its own database. As a result, consistency of electronic data between both systems can be ensured.

The present invention can be configured as described in each of the following supplementary notes.
(Appendix 1)
In an electronic mail relay system having a relay device that relays received electronic mail, and first and second information processing devices connected to the relay device,
The relay device relays the first electronic mail to which the identifier is given to the received electronic mail to the first information processing device, and the second to which the identifier identical to the identifier is given to the received electronic mail. Relay the email to the second information processing device;
The first information processing apparatus receives the first electronic mail, stores it in the first storage device, and notifies the second information processing apparatus of the identifier of the received first electronic mail. And
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores the second electronic mail together with an identifier of the second electronic mail in a second storage device, and the first information processing apparatus notifies the first information The identifier of the first electronic mail is compared with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device, and the corresponding first electronic mail among the identifiers of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device When the identifier is not notified, the second electronic mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first electronic mail is taken out from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing device. E-mail relay system.
(Appendix 2)
The second information processing apparatus further notifies the first information processing apparatus of the identifier of the received second e-mail,
The first information processing apparatus further stores the received first electronic mail together with the identifier of the first electronic mail when storing the received first electronic mail in the first storage device. Is compared with the identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device and the identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the first storage device. If the identifier of the corresponding second e-mail is not notified, the first e-mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the second e-mail is taken out from the first storage device and the second e-mail is retrieved. The e-mail relay system according to appendix 1, wherein the e-mail relay system transfers to an information processing apparatus.
(Appendix 3)
The relay device includes first and second relay devices that are duplexed with each other,
The electronic mail relay system according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein when the first relay device stops relaying electronic mail, the second relay device starts relaying electronic mail.
(Appendix 4)
4. The electronic mail relay system according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the identifier is a continuous number.
(Appendix 5)
A load distribution apparatus that distributes and relays received electronic mail; a first relay apparatus that relays electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus; and the first relay of electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus An e-mail relay system comprising: a second relay device that relays electronic mail other than the electronic mail relayed by the device; and first and second information processing devices connected to the first and second relay devices, respectively In
The first relay device transmits a first electronic mail in which an identifier of a first system indicating that the first relay device has received the electronic mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relay to the processing device, and relay to the second information processing device a second electronic mail in which the identifier of the first system identical to the identifier of the first system is attached to the received electronic mail,
The second relay device sends a third e-mail in which an identifier of a second system indicating that the second relay device has received the e-mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relaying to the processing apparatus, and relaying to the second information processing apparatus a fourth e-mail in which the received second e-mail is assigned the same identifier of the second system as the identifier of the second system;
The first information processing apparatus receives the first and third electronic mails, stores the first electronic mail and the third electronic mail respectively in a first storage device, and the identifier of the first system of the received first electronic mail And an identifier of the second system of the third e-mail, respectively, to the second information processing apparatus,
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores it in a second storage device together with an identifier of the first system of the second electronic mail, and the first information processing apparatus Comparing the identifier of the first system of the first e-mail notified by the first e-mail with the identifier of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the second storage device. If the identifier of the first system of the corresponding first e-mail is not notified among the identifiers of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the first e-mail, the first e-mail of the first e-mail An e-mail relay system, wherein a second e-mail having a first system identifier equal to a system identifier is extracted from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing apparatus.
(Appendix 6)
The second information processing apparatus further receives the fourth electronic mail, stores it in the second storage device together with an identifier of the second system of the fourth electronic mail, and stores the first information The second system identifier of the third email notified by the processing device is compared with the second system identifier of the fourth email stored in the second storage device, and the second email Of the identifiers of the second system of the fourth e-mail stored in the storage device, if the identifier of the second system of the corresponding third e-mail is not notified, the third e-mail of the third e-mail The fourth electronic mail having the second system identifier equal to the second system identifier is extracted from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing device. Mail relay system.
(Appendix 7)
The second information processing apparatus further notifies the first information processing apparatus of an identifier of the first system of the received second electronic mail,
The first information processing apparatus further stores the received first electronic mail together with an identifier of the first system of the first electronic mail when storing the received first electronic mail in the first storage device. And comparing the identifier of the first system of the second electronic mail notified by the second information processing apparatus with the identifier of the first system of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device. If the identifier of the first system of the first e-mail stored in the storage device is not notified of the first system identifier of the corresponding second e-mail, the second e-mail Supplementary note 5 or 6, wherein the first electronic mail having the first system identifier equal to the first system identifier is extracted from the first storage device and transferred to the second information processing device. E-mail relay system described
(Appendix 8)
The second information processing apparatus further notifies the first information processing apparatus of an identifier of the second system of the received fourth e-mail,
The first information processing apparatus further stores the received third electronic mail together with an identifier of the second system of the third electronic mail when storing the received third electronic mail in the first storage device, And comparing the identifier of the second system of the fourth electronic mail notified by the second information processing apparatus with the identifier of the second system of the third electronic mail stored in the storage device. If the identifier of the second system of the corresponding fourth e-mail among the identifiers of the second system of the third e-mail stored in the storage device is not notified, the fourth e-mail Additional notes 5-7, wherein a third electronic mail having a second system identifier equal to the second system identifier is extracted from the first storage device and transferred to the second information processing device. In the email described in any of System.
(Appendix 9)
The electronic mail relay system according to appendix 5 or 6, wherein the identifiers of the first and second systems are numbers consecutive in each system.
(Appendix 10)
In a control method of an e-mail relay system having a relay device that relays received e-mail, and first and second information processing devices connected to the relay device,
The relay device relays the first electronic mail to which the identifier is given to the received electronic mail to the first information processing device, and the second to which the identifier identical to the identifier is given to the received electronic mail Relaying an e-mail to the second information processing apparatus;
The first information processing apparatus receives the first electronic mail, stores it in the first storage device, and notifies the second information processing apparatus of the identifier of the received first electronic mail. And steps to
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores the second electronic mail together with an identifier of the second electronic mail in a second storage device, and the first information processing apparatus notifies the first information The identifier of the first electronic mail is compared with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device, and the corresponding first electronic mail among the identifiers of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device A second electronic mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first electronic mail is taken out from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing device. An electronic mail relay system control method characterized by the above.
(Appendix 11)
The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
The second information processing apparatus notifying the first information processing apparatus of an identifier of the received second electronic mail;
When the first information processing apparatus stores the received first electronic mail in the first storage device, the first information processing apparatus stores the first electronic mail together with an identifier of the first electronic mail, and the second information processing apparatus The identifier of the notified second electronic mail is compared with the identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device, and among the identifiers of the first electronic mail stored in the first storage device If the identifier of the corresponding second e-mail is not notified, the second information is retrieved from the first storage device by taking out the first e-mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the second e-mail. The control method for an e-mail relay system according to appendix 10, further comprising a step of transferring to a processing device.
(Appendix 12)
The relay device includes first and second relay devices that are duplexed with each other,
The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
12. The e-mail relay system according to appendix 10 or 11, wherein the second relay apparatus starts relaying e-mail when the first relay apparatus stops relaying e-mail. Control method.
(Appendix 13)
The method for controlling an electronic mail relay system according to any one of appendices 10 to 12, wherein the identifier is a continuous number.
(Appendix 14)
A load distribution apparatus that distributes and relays received electronic mail; a first relay apparatus that relays electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus; and the first relay of electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus An e-mail relay system comprising: a second relay device that relays electronic mail other than the electronic mail relayed by the device; and first and second information processing devices connected to the first and second relay devices, respectively In the control method of
The first relay device assigns a first electronic mail in which an identifier of a first system indicating that the first relay device has received the electronic mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relaying to the processing device, and relaying to the second information processing device a second e-mail in which the received e-mail is assigned a first system identifier identical to the first system identifier; ,
The second information relay device transmits a third electronic mail in which an identifier of a second system indicating that the second relay device has received the electronic mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relaying to the processing apparatus, and relaying to the second information processing apparatus a fourth e-mail in which the received e-mail is assigned a second system identifier identical to the second system identifier; ,
The first information processing apparatus receives the first and third electronic mails, stores them in the first storage device, and the identifier of the first system of the received first electronic mail And notifying each of the second information processing apparatus of an identifier of the second system of the third e-mail;
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores it in a second storage device together with an identifier of the first system of the second electronic mail, and the first information processing apparatus Comparing the identifier of the first system of the first e-mail notified by the first e-mail with the identifier of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the second storage device. If the identifier of the first system of the corresponding first e-mail is not notified among the identifiers of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the first e-mail, the first e-mail of the first e-mail An e-mail relay system comprising a step of taking out a second electronic mail having a first system identifier equal to the system identifier from the second storage device and transferring it to the first information processing apparatus Control method.
(Appendix 15)
The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
The second information processing apparatus receives the fourth electronic mail, stores it in the second storage device together with an identifier of the second system of the fourth electronic mail, and stores the first information processing. The second system identifier of the third electronic mail notified by the apparatus is compared with the second system identifier of the fourth electronic mail stored in the second storage device, and the second storage When the identifier of the second system of the corresponding third electronic mail is not notified among the identifiers of the second system of the fourth electronic mail stored in the device, the second of the third electronic mail 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of fetching from the second storage device a fourth electronic mail having a second system identifier equal to the system identifier of the system and transferring it to the first information processing apparatus. Control method for e-mail relay system.
(Appendix 16)
The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
The second information processing apparatus notifying the first information processing apparatus of an identifier of the first system of the received second electronic mail;
When the first information processing apparatus stores the received first electronic mail in the first storage device, the first information processing apparatus stores the first electronic mail together with an identifier of the first system of the first electronic mail, and the second The first system identifier of the second electronic mail notified by the information processing apparatus is compared with the first system identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device. If the identifier of the first system of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device is not notified of the identifier of the first system of the corresponding second electronic mail, the second electronic mail (Supplementary note 14) comprising: taking out a first electronic mail having a first system identifier equal to an identifier of one system from the first storage device and transferring it to the second information processing device. Or 15 electronic mail Method of controlling the relay system.
(Appendix 17)
The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
The second information processing apparatus notifying the first information processing apparatus of an identifier of the second system of the received fourth e-mail;
When the first information processing apparatus stores the received third electronic mail in the first storage device, the first information processing apparatus stores the third electronic mail together with an identifier of the second system of the third electronic mail, And comparing the identifier of the second system of the fourth electronic mail notified by the information processing apparatus with the identifier of the second system of the third electronic mail stored in the storage device. Of the identifiers of the second system of the third e-mail stored in the storage device, when the identifier of the second system of the corresponding fourth e-mail is not notified, the fourth e-mail of the fourth e-mail (Supplementary note 14) comprising: taking out a third electronic mail having an identifier of the second system equal to the identifier of the system of 2 from the first storage device and transferring it to the second information processing device. To any one of -16 Method of controlling an electronic mail relay system.
(Appendix 18)
16. The control method for an e-mail relay system according to appendix 14 or 15, wherein the identifiers of the first and second systems are consecutive numbers in each system.

It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the conventional email relay system. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional email relay system of another example. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the electronic mail relay system for implement | achieving the electronic mail relay method by Example 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of a process in the electronic mail relay system of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the electronic mail relay system for implement | achieving the electronic mail relay method by Example 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the electronic mail relay system for implement | achieving the electronic mail relay method by Example 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of a process in the electronic mail relay system of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of each apparatus which comprises the electronic mail relay system by Example 1 of the said invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of each apparatus which comprises the electronic mail relay system by Example 2 of the said invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of each apparatus which comprises the electronic mail relay system by Example 3 of the said invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the application field of each Example of the said invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the example of the exchange of the information between systems in each Example of the said invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the example of the provision method and control of an identifier in the mail relay server in each said Example of this invention. It is a hardware block diagram of a computer for demonstrating when each apparatus which comprises each Example of the said invention is comprised with a computer.

Explanation of symbols

11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1B, 11-2B Mail receiving unit 12, 12-1, 12-2, 12-1B, 12-2B Identifier generating unit 13, 13-1, 13-2, 13-1B, 13-2B Mail transfer unit 21-1, 21-2 Mail reception unit 22-1, 22-2 Mail processing unit 23-1, 23-2 Data storage unit 24-1, 24-2 Cooperation transfer unit 25-1, 25-2 Comparison processing unit 26-1, 26-2 Comparison receiving unit 27-1, 27-2 Comparison notification unit 100, 100B1, 100B2 Mail relay server 210 System 1
220 System 2

Claims (8)

In an electronic mail relay system having a relay device that relays received electronic mail, and first and second information processing devices connected to the relay device,
The relay device relays the first electronic mail to which the identifier is given to the received electronic mail to the first information processing device, and the second to which the identifier identical to the identifier is given to the received electronic mail. Relay the email to the second information processing device;
The first information processing apparatus receives the first electronic mail, stores it in the first storage device, and notifies the second information processing apparatus of the identifier of the received first electronic mail. And
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores the second electronic mail together with an identifier of the second electronic mail in a second storage device, and the first information processing apparatus notifies the first information The identifier of the first electronic mail is compared with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device, and the corresponding first electronic mail among the identifiers of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device When the identifier is not notified, the second electronic mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first electronic mail is taken out from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing device. E-mail relay system. The second information processing apparatus further notifies the first information processing apparatus of the identifier of the received second e-mail,
The first information processing apparatus further stores the received first electronic mail together with the identifier of the first electronic mail when storing the received first electronic mail in the first storage device. Is compared with the identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device and the identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the first storage device. If the identifier of the corresponding second e-mail is not notified, the first e-mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the second e-mail is taken out from the first storage device and the second e-mail is retrieved. The e-mail relay system according to claim 1, wherein the e-mail relay system transfers to an information processing apparatus. A load distribution apparatus that distributes and relays received electronic mail; a first relay apparatus that relays electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus; and the first relay of electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus An e-mail relay system comprising: a second relay device that relays electronic mail other than the electronic mail relayed by the device; and first and second information processing devices connected to the first and second relay devices, respectively In
The first relay device transmits a first electronic mail in which an identifier of a first system indicating that the first relay device has received the electronic mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relay to the processing device, and relay to the second information processing device a second electronic mail in which the identifier of the first system identical to the identifier of the first system is attached to the received electronic mail,
The second relay device sends a third e-mail in which an identifier of a second system indicating that the second relay device has received the e-mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relaying to the processing apparatus, and relaying to the second information processing apparatus a fourth e-mail in which the received second e-mail is assigned the same identifier of the second system as the identifier of the second system;
The first information processing apparatus receives the first and third electronic mails, stores the first electronic mail and the third electronic mail respectively in a first storage device, and the identifier of the first system of the received first electronic mail And an identifier of the second system of the third e-mail, respectively, to the second information processing apparatus,
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores it in a second storage device together with an identifier of the first system of the second electronic mail, and the first information processing apparatus Comparing the identifier of the first system of the first e-mail notified by the first e-mail with the identifier of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the second storage device. If the identifier of the first system of the corresponding first e-mail is not notified among the identifiers of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the first e-mail, the first e-mail of the first e-mail An e-mail relay system, wherein a second e-mail having a first system identifier equal to a system identifier is extracted from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing apparatus.   The second information processing apparatus further receives the fourth electronic mail, stores it in the second storage device together with an identifier of the second system of the fourth electronic mail, and stores the first information The second system identifier of the third email notified by the processing device is compared with the second system identifier of the fourth email stored in the second storage device, and the second email Of the identifiers of the second system of the fourth e-mail stored in the storage device, if the identifier of the second system of the corresponding third e-mail is not notified, the third e-mail of the third e-mail 4. The fourth electronic mail having a second system identifier equal to the second system identifier is extracted from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing device. E-mail relay system. In a control method of an e-mail relay system having a relay device that relays received e-mail, and first and second information processing devices connected to the relay device,
The relay device relays the first electronic mail to which the identifier is given to the received electronic mail to the first information processing device, and the second to which the identifier identical to the identifier is given to the received electronic mail Relaying an e-mail to the second information processing apparatus;
The first information processing apparatus receives the first electronic mail, stores it in the first storage device, and notifies the second information processing apparatus of the identifier of the received first electronic mail. And steps to
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores the second electronic mail together with an identifier of the second electronic mail in a second storage device, and the first information processing apparatus notifies the first information The identifier of the first electronic mail is compared with the identifier of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device, and the corresponding first electronic mail among the identifiers of the second electronic mail stored in the storage device A second electronic mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the first electronic mail is taken out from the second storage device and transferred to the first information processing device. An electronic mail relay system control method characterized by the above. The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
The second information processing apparatus notifying the first information processing apparatus of an identifier of the received second electronic mail;
When the first information processing apparatus stores the received first electronic mail in the first storage device, the first information processing apparatus stores the first electronic mail together with an identifier of the first electronic mail, and the second information processing apparatus The identifier of the notified second electronic mail is compared with the identifier of the first electronic mail stored in the storage device, and among the identifiers of the first electronic mail stored in the first storage device If the identifier of the corresponding second e-mail is not notified, the second information is retrieved from the first storage device by taking out the first e-mail having an identifier equal to the identifier of the second e-mail. 6. The method of controlling an electronic mail relay system according to claim 5, further comprising a step of transferring to a processing device. A load distribution apparatus that distributes and relays received electronic mail; a first relay apparatus that relays electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus; and the first relay of electronic mail relayed by the load distribution apparatus An e-mail relay system comprising: a second relay device that relays electronic mail other than the electronic mail relayed by the device; and first and second information processing devices connected to the first and second relay devices, respectively In the control method of
The first relay device assigns a first electronic mail in which an identifier of a first system indicating that the first relay device has received the electronic mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relaying to the processing device, and relaying to the second information processing device a second e-mail in which the received e-mail is assigned a first system identifier identical to the first system identifier; ,
The second information relay device transmits a third electronic mail in which an identifier of a second system indicating that the second relay device has received the electronic mail received from the load distribution device to the first information. Relaying to the processing apparatus, and relaying to the second information processing apparatus a fourth e-mail in which the received e-mail is assigned a second system identifier identical to the second system identifier; ,
The first information processing apparatus receives the first and third electronic mails, stores them in the first storage device, and the identifier of the first system of the received first electronic mail And notifying each of the second information processing apparatus of an identifier of the second system of the third e-mail;
The second information processing apparatus receives the second electronic mail, stores it in a second storage device together with an identifier of the first system of the second electronic mail, and the first information processing apparatus Comparing the identifier of the first system of the first e-mail notified by the first e-mail with the identifier of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the second storage device. If the identifier of the first system of the corresponding first e-mail is not notified among the identifiers of the first system of the second e-mail stored in the first e-mail, the first e-mail of the first e-mail An e-mail relay system comprising a step of taking out a second electronic mail having a first system identifier equal to the system identifier from the second storage device and transferring it to the first information processing apparatus Control method. The method for controlling the e-mail relay system further includes:
The second information processing apparatus receives the fourth electronic mail, stores it in the second storage device together with an identifier of the second system of the fourth electronic mail, and stores the first information processing. The second system identifier of the third electronic mail notified by the apparatus is compared with the second system identifier of the fourth electronic mail stored in the second storage device, and the second storage When the identifier of the second system of the corresponding third electronic mail is not notified among the identifiers of the second system of the fourth electronic mail stored in the device, the second of the third electronic mail 8. A step of fetching a fourth electronic mail having an identifier of a second system that is equal to an identifier of the system of the system from the second storage device and transferring the same to the first information processing device. A control method of the electronic mail relay system described.

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